Machine for assembling pistons to wrist pins and connecting rods



Dec- 11, 195 c. A. EIRKEBAK MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING PISTONS TO WRIST PINS AND CONNECTING RODS 5 sheets-sheet- 1 Filed June 18. 1949 INVENTOR. O/R/sr/AA ,4. fl/m zamr Arrak/vzi Dec. 11, 1951 c. A. B-IRKEBAK 2,578,124

MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING PISTONS TO WRIST PINS AND CONNECTING RODS Filed June 18. 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 11, 1951 c. A. BIRKEBAK 2,578,124

MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING PISTONS TO WRIST PINS AND CONNECTING RODS Filed June 18. 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 lab IN VEN TOR. fly/175774 r4- fl/fiKfEAK BY ATTURA Z Y Dec. 11, 1951 c. A. BIRKEBAK MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING PISTONS TO WRIST PINS AND CONNECTING RODS Filed June 18; 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Dec. 11, 1951 MACHINE FORLASSEMBLING PISTONS TQ WRIST BINS AND CONNECTING Christian A. Birkehak, Detroit, Mich. Application June 18, 1949, Serial No. 99,958

This invention relates to an improved auto rnatie power driven machine for the mass pro: d io s y of wr st pi s. tov pi and connecting rods of the type generally used in automotive engines.

An object of this invention is to. provide my improved automatic power driven machine with a device that, in one operation of a few seconds, will insert the wrist pins in the pistons bosses d Wrist pin bearin i co e t n ro hus connectin the re t the wris pin and the latter to the piston.

Another object of the invention is. to provide my machine aforesaid with a pair of oppositely dis posed units that cut predetermined lengths of wire fed thereto, form same into retaining rings and quickly force the latter into end engagement (within the piston bosses) with the Wrist pins so as to, retain or look the pins against displacement relative to said bosses.

Another object of the invention is to p reyide my machine with a rotating member having a plurality of radially disposed work holding receptacles or chambers for carrying the parts above mentioned to be assembled, whereby upon rotation of the member, each receptacle thereof pauses briefly first, at the station where the above mentioned device is located and subsequently at the station at which the aforementioned units arelocated at which stations the operations heretofore mentioned are effected. Thus complete assembly of each piston to its connecting rod and wrist pin is thereby accomplished for each receptacle in the matter of approximately fqur. seconds. Continuous production of assembled units is maintained as long as the rotated receptacles are kept filled with parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide each receptacle with an ejector device for automatically discharging the completed assemblies therefrom. I

Still another object of the invention is to so synchronize the operational movements of the aforesaid device, units and ejector with that of the rotating member thata continuousoperation is effected to accomplish the assemblies."

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as description proceeds.

' In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a cross s'ectional view of that part of my machine taken on theme ll' of Fig. 11.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of thefinal assembly station of my machine.

Figure 3 is an enlarged "vertical sectional view tak s h re it we e 2 lfigure, 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, takn on the line '44 of the assembly station a (.1 in F ea Figure 5 -isa view similar to that shown in Fig. g but with" the moving parts thereof shown in different 'pqsijtpns? lifigure 6 is an enlarged side elevation, partly in seetionjtaken on the line i i-6 of Fig. 2:

Eig ire an irregular horizontal sectional view taken on the linel 'lof Figl3. Figure 8 is a sectional'view taken on the line t-r'sQf Fi res enre 9 n merged e ti a se ti n ew tak n o h ne 9;, $3 Fi ure 0 is a ra ment ry i rt e V ew. p t in section; of t e ce ng; i ehan m heen in the b tt m cen ra or i ns of as 4 nd 5.

Fi ure 11 is a i rammat new, f t rk carrying wheel f y mas in Figure 121s an enlarged vertical sectional view of the wire forming and feeding mandrel shown in the lower central part of Fig. 2

Figure 13 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line I3l3 of Rig. 1

Figure 14 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 'l4'--l4 of Fig. 3.

' illustrated in the drawings (Fig. 1) the numeral l0 designates the frame of the machine. 'Aprime' mover (not shown) is suitably coupled to the power input shaft H, which latter member through suitable" gearing (not 'shown') operably connects "gear" [2, carried by shaft [3, with gear keyedto shaft [5, the latter rotating on the ballbearin gs [6. Also keyed to shaft i5 is the gear IT, whichmeshes with gear'lil carried by shaft]? toturn the latter on the balls 23. To the ends of shaft l9 sprockets?! are suitably conheated for driving engagement with sprocket chains 22 (Figs; l and 2)"fo'r a'purpose later to be described.

Also keyed to shaft I5 is the Geneva approxietastases aunts and associated indexing arm 24, "the latter "member "having secured therethrough the indexing pin 25 one end of whichsupports roller 26, the arm'ZSa'nd roller 26 upon rotation being adapted in the well known manner'to engage theslots 27 of index wheel 28 which is secured to tubular shaft 29, within which the afore- Suitably keyed to tubular shaft 29, so as to rotate therewith, is "the work wheel 3| (Figs. 1 and ii) which has termed integrally therein a sury' 9 sun-sha ed surpe ts' 32 for e n- 3 tion of the cylindrical-shaped work holding receptacles 33. The opposed sides of each of the members 32 and 33 are provided with U-shaped slots 34 (see Figs. 11 and 13) aligned on the transverse axes of said supports and receptacles. The receptacles 33 are of identical construction and a description of one of them therefore is a description of the others. Each receptacle is adapted to receive and hold a piston 35, which is inserted upside down therein so as to align the bores of the wrist pin bearings thereof with the slots 34 and thus present a continuous passage through the walls of the support, the recep-- tacle and the piston, all for a purpose presently to be described.

An arm 36, secured by pin 31 to pivot with shaft 38, is mounted adjacent each receptacle, the respective ends of the said shaft extending through the side walls 39 of the work wheel (Figs. 1 and 11). The arm 36, at its free end, carries a tubular extension 40 formed at right angles thereto. This extension is adapted to slidably retain locating pin 41 therein and is prevented from disengagement therefrom by a stop screw 42, which engages recess 43 in the aforesaid pin. At the time that the machine operator inserts a piston 35 in the receptacle, as above mentioned, he at the same time inserts a connecting rod 44 and centers bearing 45 of the latter member with the pistons wrist pin bearings 46 (Figs. 1 and 9) by manually sliding locating pin 4! through the bores of the aforementioned bearings, thus temporarily holding the rod and piston in centered position relative to each other. This procedure constitutes the initial assembly operation and takes place while the receptacle is temporarily halted for such loading. Upon completion of that operation, work wheel 3| continues to rotate and obviously the same loading procedure is followed with respect to each receptacle as it is rotated to position for the operator to perform it. When completed that and each succeeding receptacle, carrying the temporarily centerd assembly, rotates or is automatically indexed to the next temporary station stop where the second assembly operation takes place.

Before proceeding with a description of the second operation, however, it must be pointed out that the opposite end of shaft 38 also carries to pivot therewith, by reason of the securing pin 37, and in unison with arm 36 carried on the opposite end, the arm 41, which latter member carries at its free end and at right angles thereto a V-shaped guide block 48 adapted to receive and hold a wrist pin 43 (Fig. 9). The latter is placed on the block 48 as a part of the first operation, above mentioned, and is reposed thereon for availability in the second assembly operation when it is pushed through and seated in the aforesaid bearings of the piston and rod, which operation will hereinafter be more fully described.

Secured to the frame [9 (Fig. 1) are the housing members and 5! that form a support for the cam shaft 52 which is rotatably supported therein by the balls 53 carried in the races 54. The inner end of shaft 52 carries gear 55 to rotate therewith and to mesh through idler gear 56 with driving gear 5'5 to which power is imparted from shaft IS. A cam track 58 is pro vided in the drum 58', carried on the base of shaft 52, in which cam follower or roller 59 The latter is secured by pin Gil to the by bolt 63 to the ram 64 which carries the plunger 65. Thus as cam track 58 revolves, the follower 59 tracking therein is moved back and forth carrying with it the aforesaid ram and plunger.

A pusher pin 66 is threadedly engaged in the operating end of plunger 65 and is secured in place by nut 67, while to the end of pin 66 there is suitably attached the cup-shaped swivel 68 which is adapted to abut against an end of wrist pin 49. Upon reciprocation of the plunger to the right, as shown in Fig. 1, said wrist pin has been forced by said plunger into locating position in the rod bearing 45 and piston bearings 46, the entrance thereto of the wrist pin having forced the locating pin 4| to the right and out of engagement with said bearings.

Further movement of locating pin 4| to the right into arm extension 46 is effected by means of cam follower 69 carried by said pin, which follower is adapted, upon being shoved to the right as aforesaid to engage and slide along the angular face of cam 10, thus moving pin 4| clear of the walls of the receptacle support 32, for a purpose later to be described.

As ram 64 reciprocates, as aforesaid, it carries with it the guide arm H which is secured to the ram by bolts 12. Bolted near the upper end to member II is a guide pin 13, which slides in the bushing 14 of housing 15; and, to the opposite end of guide pin 73 the arm 16, carrying the dog I! and stop pin 18, is securely fitted thereto. A bracket '19, secured to the housing 15, supports valve lever that is attached to a valve (not shown). When the ram 64, carrying the guide arm H and guide pin 13 is reciprocated the arm 16 is carried back and forth with the latter. In the movement to the left as dog l1 strikes lever St] the former is pivoted to the right on pivot pin 8| until clear of and beyond the point or end of lever 80. On the return stroke, dog 11 (which is now prevented from moving to the left by stop 18) hits lever 80 forcing the latter to move downward to the right, thus tripping the valve to which it is attached and causing a quantity of lubricating oil to drop from the oil line pipe 83 (partially shown, Fig. 1) on to the wrist pin, which reposed in the guide block 48, preparatory to its being pushed into position in the bearings 45 and 46 respectively of the connecting rod 44 and piston 35.

The aforesaid operations of locating the wrist pin in the bearings 45 and 46 may be termed assembly operation two and is repeated at the ram station as each receptacle is rotated thereto by the work Wheel 3|. Subsequent to each of these operations arm 36 and tubular extension 40 thereof, as well as arm 4'! and its V-shaped guide block extension 48, upon continued rotation of the wheel, are forced downward and out of position so as to clear and leave unobstructed the spaces theretofore occupied by them adjacent the ends of the now inserted wrist pin. This retraction of the aforesaid members is effected in the following manner:

As work wheel 3| is automatically indexed (as will be described more particularly hereinafter) from the ram station aforesaid to the next station for the final assembly operation, roller 84, carried by the tubular extension 40 of arm 36, rolls against the lower surface of cam 85. The latter member is secured in the bottom of frame 86 of the coiling unit, generally indicated by the numeral 81 (Fig. 2) which unit, cooperating with 51 a companion unit 88, constitute the final assembly station. Such units obviously are located rearwardly of the ram station. Arms 36 and 41,

being doweled by pins 31 and 31' to shaft 38 to turn therewith, execute a partial. downward movement upon. contact of roller 84 with cam 85. Shaft 38 (Figs. 1 and 13) also has doweled to it by pin 89 the stop lever 90, as. a consequence of which said lever moves simultaneously with and in the same direction as arms 36 and: 4.1. A lateral extension 9| of the aforesaid lever" ispivoted by screw 92 to the rod 93,. which. slidably engages within the sleeve 94. The latter member is likewise pivoted. at one end to the pivot screw 95 of spring guide flange 96, which. flange in turn is secured by bolts 91 to the inner face of work wheel. 3I. Coiled about the members 93 and 94, intermediate the spring guides 96 and 9.8 is the compression spring 99. Thus when arm 36 is depressed as aforesaid the. turning of shaft 38., to which the member 36 and lever 90 are each doweled, causesv the latter member to compress spring 99 thereby forcing. rod 93 into sleeve: 94', at which time pivots 92v and 95 permit lever 90 to turn with shaft 38 a suflicient distance: to en.- able arm 36. and its companion arm 41 to be swung clear of the spaces adjacent. the. ends. of the inserted. wrist pin. Furthermore arms: 36 and 4:1, by ofiice of. cam. 85,. remain in this. depressed; position until after the final assembly operation, hereinafter to be described,v is com.- pleted at which time the end of travel. of' arm. 36 against cam 85 is reached and spring. 99 then expanding against guides 96 and 98 force lever'90 to; turn shaft 38, carrying arms 36' and, as aforesaid, to its former position.

Continued upward travel of the arms 36 and 41 beyond the position required for centering the wrist pin. in the piston and connecting. rod bearings is prevented" by the. stop bolt. I which is threaded to the work wheel frame. H, a. stop button I0 I; secured in the end of lever: 90 serving to abut againstbolt I00.

During the assembly operations heretofore and hereinafter mentioned the'work pieces (piston 35, connecting rod 44- and wrist pin 49);, carried in the receptacles 33 are prevented? from: displacement therefrom by spring actuated snap locks I02. (Figs. 11 and 1.3) which aresupported in the U-shaped brackets I03 secured. by'bolts I04: to-

each receptacle support. 32;. At the time-bearing 45 of connecting rod 44 is. initially centered-i with the pistonbearings 46,. connecting rod: 44 is'manuually forced between bracket arms I 0.5 of the member I03 against the pressure of the snap locks I02 until the latter expand into: the longitudinal groove I 06 in. the connecting rod, thus insuringtherod against any swinging action as-the work wheel: rotates.

Upon completion of the assembly operation at theram station, work wheel 3I is-automatically indexed so as to present the receptacle, which had just left the-ram station, to the finalassembl'y station: which comprises the two coiling units 81 and 88. These units are identical in construction and mode of operation; so that a description of one obviously will coverthe other. Theseunits are suitablybolted to the main frame ID of the machine and are positioned one index stopof the work wheel to the rear of the ram station; Also, as shown in Fig. 2, the units are situated directly opposite each other and are separated only-by the workwheel so as to enable the latter in its rotationto turn each receptacle therebetween.

Motion imparted from shaft I9, through sprocket M and chain 22 (Figs. 1 and 2) is delivered. to sprocket I01. The latter is secured to the cam base I08 by bolts I09- which base in turn is keyed at ILI0 to shaft II I that is journaled at its ends in bushings H2 and H3 supported in the frame 86. Pinned. toshaft III by the dowel I' I4 is the drive gear I I5 which meshes, through idler gear I-I6 (-Fig. 3) with cut-01f gear 1 secured to shaft II8 by the screw I;I:9. Shaft H8 is mounted; for rotation in bushings. I20 and. I2.I that are supported respectively in the transverse frame: member I22. and feeder plate: I23. Bushing I2I may be secured to the member I23 in the well known manner, though I have. shown it being fastened: by bolt I24 and backed by stop bushing. I25.. A cam member I26, comprising a pair of oppositely disposed cams I21 and- I28 formed therein, is keyed at one end of shaft II8 to turn therewith andis securely held thereon. by nut I29 (Figs. 2, 4 and 5). A cover or feeder plate I30 is bolted to that portion of the outside face of transverse plate I23 to cooperate therewithin supporting most of the mechanism shown in Figs. 4. and 5' presently to be described.

It will be observed (Figs. 2' and 4) that as the smaller cam I28 is rotated; about shaft I I-8- it strikes the. swivel plate I-31I, which pivots on'pin I32, moving the plate in the direction and as incheated. by the dotted lines (Fig. 5):. Plate I31, thus bearing against one end of cut-off bar I33; is thereby forced to push the latter against the actionof spring I34 that is'coiled inthe opposite end of said rod about the supporting pin I35.- A carbide guide bushing I36, having; a longitudinal aperture or passage I31 is inserted in the member I33 intermediate its ends. Said passage is concentric with the passage I38 in bushing I39 which is secured in opening I40 partly machined in each of the inner wall surfaces of the plates I23. and I30. A. reel of wire (not shown) furnishes a supply of wire I41 to passages I31 and I38 and said wireis intermittently drawn to and through said passages by the wire feed wheel I42 cooperating; with idler wheel I43. The former wheel (Fig. 8) is secured to shaft. I44' an'd turns therewith in the bushings I45 and I46 fittedrespectively in the wallsof plates I23 and I30. The latterwheel' is secured to turn with shaft I41 1n bushings I48 and I 49" retained: in bracket support I50 which is mounted to pivot on pin" I5I secured to plates I23 and I30. Screw I52", secured through the upper surface of plate I23; is adapted upon manipulation of nut I53, to adjust the tension in spring I54, one end of which is seated inarecess iii-bracket arm I 55, while the opposite end is retained in end engagement with screw I52 by the retaining shank I56; By so increasing or decreasing the tension on the aforesaid spring, the-bracket I50will be swung about the'pivot I5I carrying wheel I43=with it to there'- by attain a suitable gripping surface by drive wheel I42 onthe wire against wheel I43, which action of thewheels thus provides-the desired pull of'the-wire through passages I 3'8'and I31.

Intermittent rotation of the aforesaid drive wheel I42 (Figs. 2; 3 and 8) is'effected from main driveshaft II I- through the dog body I51, that is'keyed to'said shaft, and. thence to clutch dog I58 which is pivotally mounted on the; pin I50 secured in said body. The said clutch dog normally is kept in engagement with clutch member I60- by the pressure exerted against it by spring I '6I which is suitably disposed in said body: Thus upon rotation of'the aforesaid body and dog with shaft III, upper dog arm I62, upon contact with cam I63, which latter member is secured by bolt I64 to the cross member I22, causes the aforesaid dog to pivot upon pin I59 and thereby disengage it from the said clutch. When the latter is in engagement, as above mentioned, and being keyed to short shaft I64, it is partially turned and imparts a like movement to driving gear I65, which is also secured to said shaft to turn therewith. Finally gear I65, meshing with idler gear I66 (Figs. 3, '1 and 8) and the latter with wire feed gear I61, the power initiated in shaft III is transmitted to shaft I69 and thence to wheel I82. Obviously when dog I58 is disengaged from clutch member I68, wheel I42 stops rotation and feeding of the wire I4I thereby ceases until reengagement of the aforesaid clutch is again established.

The aforesaid pulling of the wire through the stated passages by the wheels I42-I43 bring it beyond cut-01f bar I33 where the wire then enters the longitudinal passage I68 in the wire bending fixture I69 and its proceeds therethrough until its end reaches the aperture I19, which is machined in the coiling arbor I1I, at which instant cam I28, pushing against swivel plate I3! forces bar I33, carrying the wire MI, in the direction of spring I39. A wire cutting tool I12 is rigidly supported by the clamp I13 and bracket I14 that are attached to feeder plate I23. A nut I15, secured to the bracketed end of said tool, is provided for longitudinal adjustment of the latter. In consequence of the lateral movement of the wire I4I, above referred to, it is forced against the cutting edge I16 of the tool and is thus severed from the wire stock. Immediately subsequent to that cutting operation, continued rotation of small cam I23 permits arm I3I to resume the full line position shown in Fig. 5, at which time bar I33, due to the action of spring I34, is returned to its normal position.

Simultaneously with the completion of the wire cutting operation, as large cam I21 is also secured to and turns on the same shaft as small cam I28, the larger cam is rotated to assume the position shown in Fig. when it contacts roller I11 pinned to the arm I18. The latter is positioned in a non-geometrical recess I19 machined in plate I23, and is pivoted therein for swinging movement about the shaft I88 and is also connected by pivot pin I9I to the plunger I82. Coiled about the latter member is a spring I83, the ends of which are retained in seats I84 and I85 pro vided respectively in arm I18 and plate I23. Thus pressure exerted by cam I21 on roller I11 forces arm I18, carrying the pivoted plunger I82, back against the action of spring I83 compressing the latter and forcing the plunger end I86 to slidably extend through an aperture I81 provided in plate The opposite end of arm I18 is pivotally connected by means of the pin I88 to link I89, and a pin I98 in the opposite end of the latter pivotally connects it to the arcuate retainer I9I that is secured to the arcuate slide I92 which is adapted for sliding movement in the semi-circular guideway I93. Consequently as wire bending fixture I69 is rigidly secured intermediate members I9! and I92, so as to be moved therewith, upon the severance of wire I lI as aforesaid, and the pull exerted on link I89 and retainer I9I by arm I18, the said fixture will be forced to execute a clockwise movement through approximately a ninety 8 degree are, as shown by the relative positions thereof exhibited in Figs. 4 and 5.

End I94 of the severed piece of wire I4I, having previously been seated in the hole I18 of the coiling arbor prior to the wire cutting operation aforementioned is, in consequence of the said clockwise swinging of the wire bending fixture I69, bent at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the major portion of the severed wire to thereby provide a firm grip in the said hole.

A groove I95, machined circumferentially in the outer surface of coiling arbor I1I, has its ends terminating in the outer end of hole I18 to thereby provide a means for forming the major portion of the severed wire into a wrist pin retaining ring I96 (Fig. 10), the manner and complete means of forming which presently will be described.

Coiling arbor I1I (Figs. 2 and 12) is fitted by key I91 and secured by screw I98 to plunger shaft I99. The arbor and plunger as thus united act as a unit which is adapted to oscillate as well as reciprocate within the coiling sleeve 288, while the latter member by reason of keys 28! and 28 I is adapted for longitudinal sliding only in bushing 282 (Fig. 4). A recess 283 is exteriorly machined in said sleeve, the vertical wall 284 of which serves as a stop upon forward sliding contact thereof with key 285. The latter member is secured by screw 286 to the frame 86 and extends through an aperture in bushing 282 into said recess.

Oscillation of arbor I1I, the progressive movements of which are shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 10, is accomplished by reason of the fact that advancing cam 291 and return cam 288 (Figs. 2 and 6) are secured to and rotate with the main drive shaft III of the coiling unit. These cams when thus rotated bear respectively against roller 2 I8 and roller 2I I, carried by the lever 2 I2 which pivots on shaft 2I3 that is supported in the bushing 2I4 secured in the frame 86. In consequence of this cam action the lower portion of lever 2I2 is swung back and forth carrying with it rack 2I5, which is thereby reciprocated in the guideway 2I6 by reason of the adjustable screw connection 2 I1, which is secured in trunnions 2 I8 and 2 I8 respectively attached to said lever portion and rack. As the latter is positioned transversely of the axis of plunger shaft I99, to which pinion 229 is keyed, the teeth 22I of the rack meshing with the pinion teeth cause shaft I99 to be rocked back and forth on its axis. Thus as wire coiling arbor I1I is keyed to and turns with said shaft, severed wire I4 I is turned about the arbor into and along the groove I and thereby formed into the retaining ring I96, as shown in Fig. 10, after which action cam 288, acting in the manner above described, returns arbor I1I to the position shown in Fig. 4.

Following the formation of the retaining ring, shaft I99 carrying arbor I1I as aforesaid is reciprocated toward and away from piston 35 (Fig. 2). Such movement is effected by reason of the fact that the cam follower 222, carrying roller 223, is attached to said shaft by means of nut 224, and as the said roller is retained in rolling engagement with the track 225 of cam 226 ,(the drum I88 of which is keyed to the drive shaft III) the rotation of said cam will cause the follower to reciprocate shaft I99.

When the latter is thus moved forward the wrist pin retaining ring I96, which theretofore had been retained in pressed engagement in the groove I95 by'the sleeve 288, is slid toward the wrist pin 49, now positioned in the respective piston bosses 46 (Fig. 12). When the ring reaches the internal annular groove 22'! in the said boss it springs free of arbor groove I95 and seats itself in the groove 227, after which shaft I99 and its attached arbor are retracted for repeat operations on subsequently delivered work pieces.

As previously mentioned, there being two opposed coiling units for simultaneously forming a pair of rings I95, and then forcing the same into end engagement in grooves 221 of the piston bosses |6v for the retention of the wrist pins therein, obviously the description just given of one of those units applies in every detail to the other. Also the insertion of the two retainer rings I96 in end engagement with the wrist pin aforesaid completes the .final assembly of the wrist pin to the connecting rod 44 and piston 35 at which time work wheel 3| is again automatically indexed, moving therewith the receptacle 33, containing the assembled work, away from the coiling station to be replaced thereat by the succeeding receptacle. In consequence of this movement the first mentioned receptacle, following its circuitous path, has been turned to a position below the horizontal axis of the work wheel but approximately midway between the latter and the vertical axis of said wheel. Thus the receptacle has been turned almost up-side down and upon reaching this latter position the assembled work aforementioned is ejected from the receptacle in the manner presently to be described.

Each work holding receptacle 33 is fitted with a guide bushing 228 (Figs. 1 and 13) the upper end of which extends through an aperture 229 of the receptacle and its respective support. Screws 230, the heads 23| of which clampingly engage the shoulders 232 of said 'bushing and the bottom of the receptacle, rigidly secure these members to work wheel 3|. A slideway 233, extending longitudinally of said bushing is provided therein for the intermittent reciprocating movements of ejector rod 234. The lower end of the latter extends beyond the said bushing and to its extreme end a pin 235 is secured for slidable contact in slot 236 provided in one end of lever 231. The opposite end of the latter is pivotally secured on shaft 238 carried in wheel 3|. Intermediate said slot and shaft, lever 23'! carries cam roller 239 which is adapted .to roll in the pear shaped cam track 240 of cam plate 24| Thus after each assembly of the parts aforementioned is completed at the coiling station and the work carrying receptacle is moved therefrom, the cam tracking of roller 239 aforesaid causes the latter to tilt the slotted end of lever 231 upward about the pivot point of shaft 238, shoving the ejector rod upward against the dome of piston 35-to thereby force it out of the work receptacle 33. The force of this upward thrust is also sufficient to dislodge the connecting rod 44 from its locked engagement with snap lock I02.

Throughout the operation of my machine as aforesaid, the automatic indexing of the work wheel 3| for the presentation of the work receptacles to the assembly or work stations is produced by means of the Geneva indexing arm 24, through the indexing pin 25 and roller 26, which ar'm upon rotation is adapted to turn Geneva wheel 28 by engaging the slots 21 therein and thereby turning the tubular shaft 29 to which the work wheel 3.1 is securely keyed. As heretofore mentioned, each work receptacle, of which I employ six, being insertedin and. bolted to the support 32, is a rigid partof the work wheel, in

consequence of which they rotate with the wheel. Therefore, a description of the rotational progress of one covers the others.

Each receptacle proceeds through its circuitous travel to and from the aforementioned work stations and is halted for a few seconds at each station so that the assembly work above described may be completed. To effect these temporary stops, I employ the following means:

A cam base 242 (Fig. 1) keyed to drive shaft l9, carries cam 243, the track 244 of which is adapted to engage cam roller'245. The latter is supported by the pin 246, which is secured by screw 241 in the slide 248. An index pin 249 is secured in said slide by the dowel pin 250. Consequently upon rotation of cam track 244, by reason of the power imparted to it from shaft I9, the cam follower 245 is forced to execute a backward and forward movement, thereby reciprocating index pin 249 in guideway 25| for temporary engagement in one of the apertured stops 252 that are circuitously disposed in the outer wall surface of wheel 3|. When index pin 249 is thus slidably engaged in one of said stops it holds the wheel 3| from turning for a matter of three seconds, the time allowed for each work station to complete its particular operation in the assembly of the piston parts, or of assemblies of like nature.

Considering the operations in their inverse order and viewed from the standpoint that a complete assembly has been made of one set of work parts, when the work wheel has been so stopped for the ejection of the completed work, a receptacle is also halted at the coiling station, the ram station and at the loading station. Therefore simultaneously with the ejection operation there is taking place: At the coiling station, the insertion of the wrist pin retainer rings: at the ram station, the insertion of the wrist in; and, at'the loading station, the manual loading of the work parts, these operations being re eated as long as working parts are fed to the receptacles.

It is now obvious that I have produced an automatic power driven machine for the mass production of assembled automotive parts, which machine'is highly efficient and simple in its ease of operation. Although I have shown and particu- 'larly described the prefered embodiment of this invention, I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction shown, as various changes in the form and relation of the parts thereof may readily be made without departing from the spirit of this invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination in a machine for automatically assembling pistons to connecting rods, said machine having a plurality of spaced work stations consisting of a loading, a ramming and a wrist pin retaining ring forming and applying station, of a wheel having a plurality of radially disposed receptacles, each adapted to carry a piston and connecting rod with the open end of the piston skirt exposed, means carried by each receptacle to hold a connecting rod havin its wrist pin bearing end inserted in the open skirt of each piston intermediate the bosses of the latter, means carried by said wheel adjacent each receptacle adapted to support a wrist pin in axial p ne-alignment withthe bores of said bearing and bosses, driving mechanism'including an intermittent drive for rotating said. wheel to bring said receptacles with the work pieces carried thereby successively into alignment with the said work 11' stations, means operated by said driving mechanism in timed relationship therewith for holding said Wheel with the receptacles thereof in said alignment with said work stations, a plunger at said ramming stationfor automatically forcing said wrist pin into said piston bosses and connecting rod bearing, mechanism at said ring forming and applyin station for automatically forming and inserting a ring in each of said bosses adjacent the respective ends of said Wrist pin, means operated by said drivin mechanism in timed relationship "therewith for actuating said plunger, and additional means also operated by said driving mechanism in timed relationship therewith for actuating said ring forming and inserting mechanism.

2. The combination in a machine for automatically assembling pistons to connecting rods, said machine having a plurality of spaced work stations consisting of a loading, a ramming and a wrist pin retaining ring forming and applying station, of a wheel having a plurality of radially disposed receptacles. each adapted to carry a piston and connecting rod with the open end of the piston skirt exposed, means carried by each receptacle to hold a connecting rod having its wrist pin bearing end inserted in the open skirt of each piston intermediate the bosses of the latter, means mounted adjacent each receptacle adapted to carry a wrist pin, means pivotally mounted with said last mentioned means adapted to be manually actuated therewith at the loading station to preliminarily locate upon a common axis the bore of said pin with the bores of the piston bosses and rod bearing, driving mechanism including an intermittent drive for rotating said wheel to bring said receptacles with the work pieces carried thereby successively into alignment with the said work stations, means operated by said mechanism in timed relationship therewith for holding said wheel with the receptacles thereof in said alignment with said work stations, a plunger at said ramming station actuated by said driving mechanism in timed relationship therewith" for forcing said wrist pin into said piston bosses and connecting rod bearing; and mechanism, at said ring forming and applying station, operated by said driving mechanism in timed relationship therewith for cutting and forming and inserting a ring in each of said bosses adjacent the respective ends of said wrist pin.

3. The combination in a machine for automatically assembling pistons to connecting rods,

' said machine having a plurality of spaced work stations consisting of a loading, a ramming and a wrist pin retaining ring forming and applying station, of a wheel having a plurality of radially disposed receptacles, each adapted to carry a piston and connecting rod with the open end of the piston skirt exposed, means carried by each receptacle to hold a connecting rod having its wrist pin bearing end inserted in the open skirt of each piston intermediate the bosses of the latter, means mounted adjacent each receptacle adapted to carry a wrist pin, means pivotally mounted with said last mentioned means adapted to be manually actuated therewith at the loading station to preliminarily locate upon a common axis the bore of said pin with the bores of the piston bosses and rod bearing, driving mechanism including an intermittent drive for rotating said Wheel to bring said receptacles with the work pieces carried thereby successively into alignment with the said Work stations, means operated by said mechanism in timed relationship therewith for holding said wheel with the receptacles thereof in said alignment with said work stations; said ramming station having a plunger actuated by said driving mechanism in timed relationship therewith for forcing each wrist pin into engagement with said piston bosses and rod bearing; said ring forming and applying station having cam actuated feeders supplying predetermined lengths of wire and cam actuated arbors adapted to receive and form said wire lengths into rings and to force the latter into retaining engagement in said bosses adjacent the respective ends of said wrist pins; and, means operated by said driving mechanism for synchronously controlling the movements of said cam actuated members with the movements of said wheel.

4. The combination in a machine for automatically assembling pistons to connecting rods, said machine having a plurality of spaced work stations consisting of a loading, a ramming and a wrist pin retaining ring forming and applying station, of a wheel having a plurality of radially disposed receptacles, each adapted to carry a piston and connecting rod with the openend of the piston skirt exposed, means carried by each receptacle to hold a connecting rod having its wrist pin bearing end inserted in the open skirt of each piston intermediate the bosses of the latter, means mounted adjacent each receptacle adapted to carry a wrist pin, means pivotally mounted with said last mentioned means adapted to be manually actuated therewith at the loading station to preliminarily locate upon a common axis the bore of said pin with the bores of the piston bosses and rod bearing, driving mechanism including an intermittent drive for rotating said wheel to bring said receptacles with the work pieces carried thereby successively into alignment with the said work stations, means operated by said driving mechanism in timed relationship therewith for holding said wheel with the receptacles thereof in said alignment with said work stations; said ramming station having a plunger actuated by said driving mechanism in timed relationship therewith for forcing each wrist pin into engagement with said piston bosses and rod bearing; said ring forming and applying station having cam actuated feeders supplying predetermined lengths of wire and cam actuated arbors adapted to receive and form said wire lengths into rings and to force the latter into retaining engagement in said bosses adjacent the respective ends of said wrist pins; a cam actuated pin movable through each of said receptacles for ejecting the assembled units therefrom; and means operated by said driving mechanism for synchronously controlling the movements of said cam actuated members with the movements of said wheel.

5. In a machine for automatically assembling wrist pins to pistons and connecting rods the combination of, a rotatable work wheel adapted to carry sets of said parts in spaced-apart receptacles provided in the rim of said Wheel; driving mechanism includin an intermittent drive for rotating said wheel to successively bring each of said parts to predetermined stops along its cyclatory path of travel; a plunger, operated by said driving mechanism in timed relationship therewith, at one of said stops along said path for forcing each wrist pin into the bosses and bearing of its companion piston and rod; andmechanism, operated by said driving mechanism in timed relationship therewith, at another of said stops rearwardly of the first mentioned stop along said path for forming and inserting a ring in retaining engagement in each of said bosses adjacent the respective ends of said wrist pin.

6. In a machine for automatically assembling wrist pins to pistons and connecting rods the combination of, a rotatable work wheel adapted to carry sets of said parts in spaced-apart receptacles provided in the rim of said wheel; driving mechanism including an intermittent drive for rotating said wheel to successively bring each of said sets to predetermined stops alon its cyclatory path of travel; a plunger, operated by said driving mechanism in timed relationship therewith, at one of said stops along said path for forcing each wrist pin into the bosses and bearing of its companion piston and rod: and identical units, simultaneously operated by said driving mechanism in timed relationship therewith, each facing opposite sides of said wheel at another of said stops rearwardly of the first mentioned stop for simultaneously forming and inserting a ring in retaining engagement in each of said bosses adjacent an end of said wrist pin.

7. In a machine for automatically successively assembling wrist pins to pistons and connecting rods the combination of, an intermittently rotatable wheel having a plurality of radially disposed receptacles each carrying a piston and connecting rod with the wrist pin bearing end oi the latter inserted in the open skirt of each piston intermediate the bosses of the pistons; means carried by said wheel adjacent each receptacle adapted to support the wrist pin laterally of and in axial alignment with the bores of said bearing and bosses; a ramming station, including an automatic plunger for forcing the wrist pin into said bores, laterally disposed along the path of rotation of said wheel; twin wrist pin retaining ring forming and applying stations spaced rearwardly of the ramming station along said path and directly opposite each other, one adjacent each side of said wheel, each station having automatic means for successively and simultaneously cutting and forming retainin rings and automatic means for simultaneously forcing a ring into each piston boss adjacent the respective ends of the wrist pin; driving mechanism, including an intermittent drive, for rotating the wheel to present successive sets of the parts to be assembled in sequential registration opposite the ramming and intermediate the twin stations; and means operated by said driving mechanism in timed relationship therewith for actuating said plunger and additional means also operated by said driving mechanism in timed relationship therewith for actuating each of said automatic means to effect the assembly of said parts.

8. In a machine for automatically successively assembling wrist pins to pistons and connecting rods the combination of, a wheel having a plurality of radially disposed receptacles, each carrying a piston and connecting rod with the wrist pin bearing end of the latter inserted in the open skirt of each piston intermediate the bosses.

of the piston, means carried by said wheel adjacent each receptacle adapted to be manually actuated to support a wrist pin laterally of the bores of said bearing and bosses and in axial alignment therewith, driving mechanism including an intermittent drive for rotating said wheel, ramming mechanism actuated by said driving mechanism in timed relationship therewith for forcing the wrist pin into said bearing and bosses, a pair of identical ring forming and applying units disposed beyond the ramming mechanism along the path of rotation of the wheel and di rectly opposite each other at opposite sides of the wheel, said units each including mechanism, simultaneously actuated by the driving mechanism in timed relationship therewith, for forming rings and forcing the latter into retaining engagement in said bosses adjacent an end of each wrist pin.

9. In a machine for automatically successively assembling wrist pins to pistons and connecting rods the combination of, a wheel having a plurality of radially disposed receptacles, each carrying a piston and connecting rod with the wrist pin bearing end of the latter inserted in the open skirt of each piston intermediate the bosses of the piston, means carried by said wheel adjacent each receptacle adapted to be manually actuated to support a wrist pin laterally of the bores of said bearing and bosses and in axial alignment therewith, driving mechanism including an intermittent drive for progressively rotating said wheel to predetermined stops, means operated by said drivin mechanism in timed relationship therewith for temporarily holding said wheel during each stop, ramming mechanism actuated during each stop by said driving mechanism in timed relationship therewith for forcing the wrist pin from its support into the bore of said bearing and bosses, identical ring forming and applying units housed in said machine in facing relationship to each other but on opposite sides of said wheel and spaced rearwardly of the ramming station along the path of rotation of the wheel, said units each including mechanism, simultaneously actuated by the driving mechanism in timed relationship therewith, for forming rings and forcing the latter into retaining engagement in said bosses adjacent the respective ends of each wrist pin.

CHRISTIAN A. BIRKEBAK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,192,631 Hick July 25, 1916 1,386,372 Singer et al. Aug. 2, 1921 1,448,868 Rollins Mar. 20, 1923 1,526,716 Neunherz Feb. 17, 1925 1,887,885 Forster Nov. 15, 1932 1,943,452 Nolan Jan. 16, 1934 2,052,356 Long Aug. 25, 1936 2,214,025 Larson Sept. 10, 1940 2,390,596 Larsen Dec. 11, 1945 

